Joseph vs Robert
Joseph and Robertcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #34 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2003, Joseph was ranked #37 and Robert #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2012, Joseph was ranked #45 and Robert #80 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #56 and Robert #151 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Joseph was ranked #64 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #82 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Joseph was ranked #465 and Robert #363 among boys in Norway.
Joseph and Robert over time
Joseph and Robert appear together in 6 published lists, across 298 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Joseph in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1994, Joseph moved ahead of Robert in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #37 and #34 the year before became #34 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Joseph and Robert changed places 4 times in Norway · Boys between 1949 and 2025, ending at #465 and #363.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 52 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Joseph and Robert averaged 36.3 places apart, ending at #37 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Joseph and Robert were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 52 years, from 1952 to 2003, ending at #37 and #95.
List by list
Norway · Boys69 shared years, 1949–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Robert in 67.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #272 in 1985, Robert #25 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #465, Robert #363.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Robert in 28.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #11 in 1964, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #64, Robert #104.
New Zealand · Boys58 shared years, 1954–2012
Joseph held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Robert in 37.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #18 in 1988, Robert #5 in 1954.
The order changed in 1992: Joseph moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #20 and #19; by 1992 that had become #25 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Joseph #45, Robert #80.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys52 shared years, 1952–2003
Joseph held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Robert in 42.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #34 in 1994, Robert #3 in 1952.
The order changed in 1994: Joseph moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #37 and #34; by 1994 that had become #34 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Joseph #37, Robert #95.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Joseph held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Robert in 0.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #7 in 2000, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joseph #56, Robert #151.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Joseph held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Robert in 2.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #22 in 2013, Robert #35 in 1997.
The order changed in 1999: Joseph moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #46 and #42; by 1999 that had become #44 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joseph #34, Robert #93.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Joseph | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #33 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robert has a recorded origin (Germanic); Joseph does not have one recorded yet.
- Joseph and Robert both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Robert; Joseph doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Joseph
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #33 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys